Our Story
Thirty acres of idyllic Hampshire downland, fifty-two thousand vines and four siblings with a desire to make something great, together.
Two centuries
Over two hundred years after our forebear, Alexander, bought the Grange Estate we have come together to produce a family of sparkling English wine from its soft, chalky landscape. The wines express the unique characteristics of our vineyard – Burges Field – where flinty south-facing slopes encourage an ideal balance of acidity and sugar.
The Team
Our own entrepreneurial business experience would be nothing without the exceptional skills of those we’ve brought together to tend the grapes and turn them into wine. Into each bottle goes years of care and attention and centuries of experience from across the world, crystallised in the talents of Samuel Philippot, our Vineyard Manager and Harry Pickering our Head Winemaker, along with their assistants Will and Juan. Sam and Harry work closely together to ensure that their viticultural and oenological attention to detail gives birth to wines of great power, elegance and finesse.
Zam Baring
Zam is the youngest of the Grange Wine siblings and, having spent most of his childhood splashing about in the sparkling, clear tributaries of the upper Itchen, he is very much enjoying discovering a similar crystalline clarity in the wine produced from this beautiful Hampshire downland.
Zam, Rose, Lucy, Mark
After careers in television, publishing, design and finance respectively, the time came in 2011 when we decided we wanted to make something great, together, on the farm. Something that would be more than a simple agricultural product, something that would stand the test of time, something that we could all enjoy.
English sparkling wine fitted the bill perfectly.
The Old Man
Father, former banker and wine-lover John Ashburton has departed for the Elysian Fields. Before his death he was an enthusiastic partner, especially once he tasted his first bottle – the CLASSIC being his particular favourite – and we imagine him drinking its heavenly equivalent at every opportunity…
We miss him.
Tom Bunning
Tom and his partner Jen and Tarka the greyhound have spent a lot of time over the last couple of years assembling a library of pictures that capture perfectly the mood of different seasons in the vineyard. Tom has also made wonderful images of our final product. Almost every beautiful photograph on this site was taken by him… and none of the less beautiful ones!
You can see more of his work here.
Will Francis
Growing up shooting and fishing in the Hampshire countryside, Will developed a passion for the land he inhabits and what it can produce. This led him viticulture and, over the past few years he has been working closely with Sam the Vineyard Manager to help produce the best quality fruit in Hampshire, alongside completing a vineyard apprenticeship at Plumpton Agricultural College and since becoming Assistant Vineyard Manager. A key member of the team at the beginning of a long and fruitful career in viticulture.
Claire Hunt
We were delighted to welcome Claire to The Grange, Hampshire in early 2020 to help spread the word. Whilst a background in sports sponsorship isn’t the most obvious route to fine wine, she has a passion for our award winning nectar and an unerring instinct for an undiscovered market.
Juan Montenegro
Growing up in the capital of Chile, Santiago, Juan loved spending time in the countryside. After a few years working as a psychologist in Santiago, he decided to go to Australia. This is where winemaking joins his path and he worked in different wineries across Australia and New Zealand for several years. In 2018 he came to the UK to join Emma Rice and the team at Hattingley Valley, becoming Assistant Winemaker in 2020. He has a huge passion for winemaking.
Samuel Philippot
Originating from the rather warmer climate of Montpellier in the south of France, Samuel grew up surrounded by vines and sun. Having completed his studies in Viticulture & Oenology, Samuel has subsequently discovered organic cultivation and managed a Domain in Bordeaux. His sense of adventure and eye for detail led him to join us in 2018 in our quest to grow the finest grapes in Hampshire.
Harry Pickering
Harry’s fascination with fermentation began with a lively batch of sparkling elderflower in his garden shed. Fifteen years on, with a first-class Winemaking degree from Lincoln University, New Zealand under his belt and having spent time with quality producers around the world, the opportunity to focus his attentions in a shed at Burges Field was too fitting to miss.
